Apply for outdoor seating

Find out about getting a temporary licence for outdoor seating areas, as part of our Covid-19 response and support for local businesses.

To be able to install an outdoor seating area you'll need a Licence to Occupy. The temporary licence will be valid for 12 months, and it will be possible to extend this period with agreement.

Application fees and the licensing fee will be waived for a period of up to 12 months. From 1 July 2021 usual fees will be charged.

All outdoor seating areas must be smoke-free and vape-free as required by Council’s Smokefree Outdoor Public Places Policy.

Alcohol cannot be consumed in these outdoor areas unless they are already licensed under the conditions of the operator’s alcohol licence.

If you’re interested in having an outdoor seating area for your café or restaurant:

  1. contact us first.
  2. once we’ve received your request, we’ll arrange a time for a Council engineer to visit your site. They will agree on the size of the outdoor area to be occupied, and help with completing the paperwork.
  3. you will be able use the outdoor area immediately while the paper work is being processed, subject to any conditions. These conditions normally relate to making sure there is enough footpath space for pedestrians to get past.